Before each one of Matt Walters’ high school games, his coaches would make sure the team trainer had a defibrillator on hand.

It was more as a precaution rather than a necessity — they had to make sure that if one of Walters’ shots hit someone, that that player could survive.

“As coaches, we didn’t want anyone to get hurt,” said Mark Petrone, an assistant coach at The Haverford (Pa.) School where Walters attended.

“His shot is vicious.”

Members of the Syracuse roster have confirmed that Walters has the fastest shot on the team. Now a junior, he’s used scarcely and when he does, it’s in man-up situations. But he possesses a rare gift that the team always has in its back pocket — even with Walters struggling to learn plays — and helps the Orange prepare for hard shooters in practice.

His shot partly stems from technique. Partly from his build. And other factors that he can’t pinpoint, or explain.

“It’s something I’ve had since I was a little kid,” Walters said. “It’s weird. I don’t know what it is. Like I literally don’t know. I have no idea.”

Walters may not know how or why he has that gift.

It could be the hours he spent shooting on the Haverford School field without pause. It could be from his shooting motion that takes force from both his arms, rather than just the top one. It could just be his strong and bulky frame.

It could be a mixture of it all, he doesn’t know. But what it has provided to the Orange extends past what his limited statistics show.

“It helps,” senior goalie Dominic Lamolinara said. “It’s definitely easier when you’ve got that kind of speed. If you can save Walters’ shot, you can save any opponent that we have. It definitely gets us prepared.”

In practice, Walters will wear a pinny with the number of the player on the opposing team that he’s simulating. And when he steps out to take the field, he has a presence.

If he winds up to take a shot, all of the players in front of the goal dive to the ground to protect themselves. His shots pace more than 100 miles per hour when he gets a full swing, and 80 off a quick release.

“Any time he hit the pipe it sounded like a car accident,” Petrone said. “I’m a good 20 yards away, but when he hits the pipe, you kind of duck. It was that devastating.”

But even with one of the quickest shots in college lacrosse, Walters has barely had the chance to showcase it. He’s played in just five games this season, and tallied just one goal.

He led the team with six man-up goals last season, but has been less of a factor during games in 2014.

SU head coach John Desko said Walters provides value to the team, but he’s not ready to put him in the rotation.

“Scout groups are really important for us,” Desko said. “… If he learned the plays a little better, he’d probably get out there quicker.”

Walters has the ability to instill fear in his opponents. It’s a reality that he accepts modestly, but is also a source of pride.

Whether those opponents are on the team Syracuse is playing or playing against his scout team in practice, is something that Walters said he’s not overly concerned with.

With a shot as fast as his, there’s value in his presence whether or not he gets in the game.

“My role on my team is to do whatever I’m asked to do,” Walters said. “No matter what it is.”

Published on April 17, 2014 at 1:30 am

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